You have been called and sent to bring others into God’s family. God created the universe to gather a group of people who would willingly choose to love and follow Him. For God to gather His family, somebody has to pass on the good news of the Gospel. Through His death on the cross and rising from the dead, Jesus is the only way for people to come into God’s family. However, people must hear the gospel to receive it. The gospel is inherently verbal. As we encounter people who do not know God, we must be able and willing to share His message of salvation with them.

KEY VERSES

EPHESIANS 1:5 (NASB)

5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

ROMANS 10:13-15 (NASB)

13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

ACTS 17:16-20 (NASB)

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. 17 So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. 18 And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? 20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.” 21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

Sermon on Mars Hill

22 So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. 23 For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ 29 Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. 30 Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this.”

1 JOHN 4:4 (NASB)

4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

UNDERSTANDING

• If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be and why?

• What is the most valuable piece of advice you have received? How might your life be different if someone had not bothered to give you that advice?

• In one sentence, what is the most important thing you have learned in life that you want to pass on to the people you love?

• What are some of the most common excuses Christians give for not sharing the gospel?

• What is the gospel? Can you share the gospel with our group in a minute or less?

• Who first shared the gospel with you? Why did they?

• How do these verses challenge you to be more proactive about sharing the gospel?

• Why do you think God chose people to spread the gospel? What do we learn about God from His choice to spread the gospel through people like us?

• What false ideas about God are prevalent today? How can we be prepared to counter false conceptions of God?

• Do you think of the growth of non-Christian religions in the United States as a threat or as an opportunity? Why?

• Why do you think Paul began his address to the Areopagus with a compliment? How can a Christian witness sincerely compliment a non-Christian as an approach to wise evangelism?

• How does Jesus’ resurrection separate Christianity from all other religions?

• What responsibility do Christians have in light of the final judgment?

  APPLICATION

• In this week’s message, you were given three action steps: Pray that people will say “Yes” to God. Step out in faith. Go where you can now. Which of these stands out to you the most? Why?

• What is keeping you from sharing the gospel? What attitudes, actions, or priorities might need to change in your life for you to begin actively sharing Christ with others?

• Who is one person you need to share the gospel with this week? What is one step you could take this week to familiarize yourself with the gospel message so that you might be prepared to share it with others?

WANT TO DIVE DEEPER?

Here are several opportunities and resources which will help you discover the answer to life's most fundamental question: What on earth am I here for? 

GIVING

Everything that happens at LCC is because of your generous gifts. When you give to God through LCC, you're helping reach thousands with the Gospel each week and are making a difference for the Lowcountry and around the world.